Music can exert a positive effect on a reading program both in complementary skill development and as a means of forcing task attention. These positive effects have been documented in research. Both music and reading require skills such as auditory and visual discrimination, reception, and association; eye-motor coordination; interpretation; word meanings in and out of context; and language reception. The integration of music and reading provides an excellent instrument for the whole language approach. Thus, music is a natural ally of the reading teacher both as a motivational tool and a vehicle for instruction. (Eleven references are attached.) (Author/SR)